Baines Wilson has appointed Adam Yau as a solicitor in its commercial property team after he successfully completed a traineeship with the specialist commercial law firm.
Originally from County Durham, he joined Baines Wilson in March 2020 just as the Covid-19 pandemic forced offices everywhere to shut.
Adam, 25, said: “Of the two years I spent training, only three months were in the office, the rest working from home.
“Fortunately, the firm was very good in making sure that I had all the technology I needed and I was very well supervised and supported.”
Adam has family members in the legal profession and decided it was the career for him while still at school after doing work experience in the legal department at Durham County Council.
He studied law at the University of Northumbria – taking summer work placements with a pensions boutique and a social housing provider – then completed a legal practice course (LPC) with BPP Law School.
LPC students normally study full time but Adam opted to study part time while working as a commercial disputes paralegal at Addleshaw Goddard, an international law firm in Manchester.
He said: “It allows you to apply what you learn, which isn’t the case when you study full time. I think it made me a better trainee.
“It wasn’t easy though. You have no social life. I had to study at weekends when I used to be a football referee – the refereeing had to take a back seat.”
Once he completed the LPC, he secured a traineeship with Baines Wilson.
“I was very pleased to be offered a place at Baines Wilson,” he said. “It’s a reputable firm – recognised in the Legal 500 – with good-quality work, good-quality clients and great colleagues to learn from.”
As a trainee, he had spells in dispute resolution and litigation, employment law and commercial property before deciding to specialise in the latter.
He said: “As soon as I started in commercial property it just clicked. I enjoyed the work and the people. You’re working to deliver a specific outcome for the client and that brings great job satisfaction.”
Baines Wilson has offices in Carlisle and Lancaster. For more information about the firm, see the website – https://www.baineswilson.co.uk/ – or call 01228 552600 for the Carlisle office or 01524 548494 for Lancaster.
